DEFINING OUR FUTURERESOURCE BASE:

How rebuilding our local meat, dairy, and egg food system can change the world.

Andrea Malmberg

Fig. 4.4

Source: Dr. Tom Field, “Challenges and Opportunities for the Beef Cattle Industry.” 5th Annual Cattleman’s Workshop, La Grande, OR. January 17, 2009

Beef Packer Concentration

Tyson24%

JBS Swift35%

Cargil23%

Other18%

There are three basic elements to defining our Future

Resource Base:

•How must we be perceived by the people in your

resource base?

•How must the ecosystem processes function?

•How must our communities look and function?

Future Resource BaseDescribing our desiredQuality of Life far into

the future.

ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES - The soils must be covered and sheltered by plants so that they teem with an abundance of life and activity. When it rains or when the snows melt, the water must go into the soil so that the springs will have life and the creeks will have water that is living and clean. Our actions promote perennial streams with healthy fisheries. All the plants and animal droppings and all manner of nutrients on the land and in the creeks must be absorbed quickly in order to be useful again for other living organisms. A great profusion and mass of plants must capture the sun’s life-giving energy, and support abundance and an ample variety of life forms.

COMMUNITY - Our community must respect diversity. It is thriving with excellent schools, health care and other services. It has a thriving economy and sources its goods and services locally. This flourishing community of people want the best possible food, grown in a manner that enhances the health of those who enjoy it and the land that creates it.

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